While the politicians dawdle at COP 17, <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/ClimateSmartCTPavilionatCOP17showcasesCitysstepstomitigateandadapttoclimatechange.aspx">Climate Smart Cape Town</a> is doing what they can to change the world with their awesome pavilion made of 1,884 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_crate">recycled milk crates</a>. Designed by <a href="http://touchingtheearthlightly.com/home/default.asp">Touching the Earth Lightly</a> and winner of the best overall pavilion <em>and</em> the best green pavilion at the climate change summit, this temporary structure made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling">entirely out of recycled materials</a> showcases the very best of homegrown South African sustainable design and clean technology. Read on for a closer look!

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Climate Smart Cape Town COP 17 Pavilion

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/touching-the-earth-lightly-COP17-crate-pavilion-2.jpg"></a>
The Climate Smart Cape Town pavilion's milk crates and 22,000 plastic milk bottles were attached to a 15 x 12m scaffolding frame and act as ‘cells’ that have a superior thermal mass for a project that can be completely dismantled and reused. Differently colored crates were used to make the pavilion look like Cape Town's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain">Table Mountain</a> to highlight the coastal city's commitment to improving its environmental record.
In addition to showcasing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_technology">clean technologies</a> such as a wind turbine, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting, the pavilion's interior is decked out with an assortment of information, graphs, and images to help visitors grasp the full extent of the challenges posed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>, as well as the numerous ways that we can adapt with a combination of human ingenuity, technology, and getting back in tune with nature....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/climate-smart-cape-towns-cop-17-pavilion-is-made-of-1884-recycled-milk-crates/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

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Climate Smart Cape Town COP 17 Pavilion

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/touching-the-earth-lightly-COP17-crate-pavilion-2.jpg"></a>
The Climate Smart Cape Town pavilion's milk crates and 22,000 plastic milk bottles were attached to a 15 x 12m scaffolding frame and act as ‘cells’ that have a superior thermal mass for a project that can be completely dismantled and reused. Differently colored crates were used to make the pavilion look like Cape Town's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain">Table Mountain</a> to highlight the coastal city's commitment to improving its environmental record.
In addition to showcasing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_technology">clean technologies</a> such as a wind turbine, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting, the pavilion's interior is decked out with an assortment of information, graphs, and images to help visitors grasp the full extent of the challenges posed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>, as well as the numerous ways that we can adapt with a combination of human ingenuity, technology, and getting back in tune with nature....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/climate-smart-cape-towns-cop-17-pavilion-is-made-of-1884-recycled-milk-crates/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

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Climate Smart Cape Town COP 17 Pavilion

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/touching-the-earth-lightly-COP17-crate-pavilion-2.jpg"></a>
The Climate Smart Cape Town pavilion's milk crates and 22,000 plastic milk bottles were attached to a 15 x 12m scaffolding frame and act as ‘cells’ that have a superior thermal mass for a project that can be completely dismantled and reused. Differently colored crates were used to make the pavilion look like Cape Town's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain">Table Mountain</a> to highlight the coastal city's commitment to improving its environmental record.
In addition to showcasing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_technology">clean technologies</a> such as a wind turbine, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting, the pavilion's interior is decked out with an assortment of information, graphs, and images to help visitors grasp the full extent of the challenges posed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>, as well as the numerous ways that we can adapt with a combination of human ingenuity, technology, and getting back in tune with nature....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/climate-smart-cape-towns-cop-17-pavilion-is-made-of-1884-recycled-milk-crates/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

4

Climate Smart Cape Town COP 17 Pavilion

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/touching-the-earth-lightly-COP17-crate-pavilion-2.jpg"></a>
The Climate Smart Cape Town pavilion's milk crates and 22,000 plastic milk bottles were attached to a 15 x 12m scaffolding frame and act as ‘cells’ that have a superior thermal mass for a project that can be completely dismantled and reused. Differently colored crates were used to make the pavilion look like Cape Town's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain">Table Mountain</a> to highlight the coastal city's commitment to improving its environmental record.
In addition to showcasing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_technology">clean technologies</a> such as a wind turbine, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting, the pavilion's interior is decked out with an assortment of information, graphs, and images to help visitors grasp the full extent of the challenges posed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>, as well as the numerous ways that we can adapt with a combination of human ingenuity, technology, and getting back in tune with nature....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/climate-smart-cape-towns-cop-17-pavilion-is-made-of-1884-recycled-milk-crates/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

5

Climate Smart Cape Town COP 17 Pavilion

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/touching-the-earth-lightly-COP17-crate-pavilion-2.jpg"></a>
The Climate Smart Cape Town pavilion's milk crates and 22,000 plastic milk bottles were attached to a 15 x 12m scaffolding frame and act as ‘cells’ that have a superior thermal mass for a project that can be completely dismantled and reused. Differently colored crates were used to make the pavilion look like Cape Town's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain">Table Mountain</a> to highlight the coastal city's commitment to improving its environmental record.
In addition to showcasing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_technology">clean technologies</a> such as a wind turbine, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting, the pavilion's interior is decked out with an assortment of information, graphs, and images to help visitors grasp the full extent of the challenges posed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>, as well as the numerous ways that we can adapt with a combination of human ingenuity, technology, and getting back in tune with nature....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/climate-smart-cape-towns-cop-17-pavilion-is-made-of-1884-recycled-milk-crates/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

6

Climate Smart Cape Town COP 17 Pavilion

<a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/touching-the-earth-lightly-COP17-crate-pavilion-2.jpg"></a>
The Climate Smart Cape Town pavilion's milk crates and 22,000 plastic milk bottles were attached to a 15 x 12m scaffolding frame and act as ‘cells’ that have a superior thermal mass for a project that can be completely dismantled and reused. Differently colored crates were used to make the pavilion look like Cape Town's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain">Table Mountain</a> to highlight the coastal city's commitment to improving its environmental record.
In addition to showcasing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_technology">clean technologies</a> such as a wind turbine, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting, the pavilion's interior is decked out with an assortment of information, graphs, and images to help visitors grasp the full extent of the challenges posed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>, as well as the numerous ways that we can adapt with a combination of human ingenuity, technology, and getting back in tune with nature....<br><br><a href='http://inhabitat.com/climate-smart-cape-towns-cop-17-pavilion-is-made-of-1884-recycled-milk-crates/'>READ ARTICLE</a>